Somali pirates hijack French yacht in Indian Ocean: group

Somali pirates have hijacked a French-flagged yacht with four crew members in the Indian Ocean, Ecoterra International, an organisation monitoring piracy in the region, said on Monday.Ecoterra International said in a statement that the attack took place on Saturday "around 640 kilometres (400 miles) off Ras Hafun in Northeast Somalia."

There was no immediate confirmation from the French naval forces engaged in anti-piracy operations in the area but Ecoterra International said brief satellite phone contact was made with the ship on Sunday.